Timbuktu

Timbuktu

The city of Timbuktu was historically an important trading post along the trans-Saharan caravan route and a center of Islamic culture from around 1400-1600. It lies on the Sahara's southern edge, about 13 km north of the Niger River. In 1988, the city was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. In 2012, Timbuktu was added to UNESCO's List of World Heritage in Danger as a response to the armed conflicts in the region. The city enjoys an exceptional location at the gateway to the Sahara Desert, close to the river and just inside the borders of Sudan's fertile zone. The economic and cultural heyday of Timbuktu, founded in the 5th century, occurred in the 15th and 16th centuries. It was a major center for the propagation of Islamic culture, with the University of Sankore. The Djingareyber Mosque was rebuilt and enlarged between 1570 and 1583 by Imam Al Aqib, the Qadi of Timbuktu, who built the southern part and the wall surrounding the cemetery to the west. The central minaret is the dominant feature of the city and one of the most spectacular landmarks in Timbuktu's landscape. The Sankore Mosque, which was built in the 14th century, was restored by Imam Al Aqib from 1578 to 1582, as was the Djingareyber Mosque. He demolished the sanctuary and had it rebuilt to the dimensions of the Kaaba of Mecca. The Sidi Yahia Mosque was constructed around 1400 by Sheikh El Moktar Hamalla, and was restored by Imam Al Aqib in 1577-1578. The three great mosques, sixteen mausoleums and holy public places still testify to this prestigious past.